First Capital Realty says in letter to councillors that Exhibition Place casino would “destroy” Liberty Village’s unique character

An aerial view of the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, looking east toward Toronto's downtown core. A major developer is telling city hall that a casino at Exhibition Place would destroy the unique character of neighbouring Liberty Village.

A casino resort at Exhibition Place would destroy the unique character of neighbouring Liberty Village and halt its gentrification, a major developer is telling city hall.

Dori Segal, chief executive of First Capital Realty Inc., said in a letter to city councillors and city manager Joe Pennachetti that his company has invested $200 million in “King Liberty Village” across the Gardiner Expressway from Exhibition Place.

“A casino mega-complex at the foot of the King Liberty Village and Queen Street West neighbourhood is completely inconsistent with the city’s vision for this area,” Segal wrote.

First Capital, owner of Shops at King Liberty, plans to spend another $250 million over the next five years in the neighbourhood “as families and businesses grow and reinvest,” in it, he said.

A casino “will destroy the unique character and lifestyle of King Liberty Village and Queen Street West and irreparably impair the community attributes and value of this neighbourhood. It will immediately end the gentrification of King Liberty Village and Queen Street West.

“Neither families nor anyone else wants to live next door to a casino!” Segal wrote.

Segal urges councillors to reject city-owned Exhibition Place as a casino site.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. plans, as part of its “modernization,” to award a tender for one new privately built and operated casino in the Greater Toronto Area.

Major casino operators are clamouring to build in downtown Toronto — a third potential site, the Port Lands, is getting less attention than Exhibition Place or Front St. W. — but OLG says it will not force a casino on the city.

The city manager will unveil a report, including the results of public consultation on the casino question and recommendations on how to proceed, at Mayor Rob Ford’s executive committee meeting on March 20. Council is expected to have final say at its April 3-4 meeting.

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